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NCX-4016, a nitro-derivative of aspirin, inhibits EGFR and STAT3 signaling and mdulates Bcl-2 proteins in cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells and xenografts

Karuppaiyah Selvendiran, Anna Bratasz, Liyue Tong, Louis J. Ignarro and Periannan Kuppusamy

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We have previously reported the inhibitory effect of NCX-4016, a nitro derivative of aspirin, on the proliferation of cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells, in vitro (Bratasz et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006; 103:3914-9). In this report we present the results of our study on the mechanistic aspects of drug action including the molecular and signaling pathways involved in an in vitro cell line, as well as in a murine tumor xenograft. We report, for the first time, that NCX-4016 significantly inhibited the growth of cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer xenografts in mice. We observed that the inhibitory effect of NCX-4016 on cell proliferation was associated with G1 phase cell-cycle arrest with increased activity of p53, p21 and p27 proteins. NCX-4016 modulated the Bcl-2 family of proteins, and induced apoptosis by activating Bax and cytochrome c release in a time-dependent manner. In addition, NCX-4016 selectively down-regulated the phosphorylated forms of EGFR (Tyr845, Tyr992), pAkt (Ser473, Thr305), and STAT3 (Tyr705, Ser727), in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, the results clearly suggested that NCX-4016 causes significant induction of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells via down-regulation of EGFR/PI3K/STAT3 signaling and modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins. Thus, NCX-4016 appears to be a potential therapeutic agent for treating recurrent human ovarian carcinoma.

Authors

Karuppaiyah Selvendiran

Ohio State University; Columbus, OH

Anna Bratasz

Ohio State University; Columbus, OH

Liyue Tong

Ohio State University; Columbus, OH

Louis J. Ignarro

University of California School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA

Periannan Kuppusamy

Ohio State University; Columbus, OH

Purchase article for $19

Subscribe to this journal for $129/year